Halifa Sallah has begun a month-long tour of Europe in Norway, on a trip that will also see him meet Gambians in Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Austria.

Meeting the Gambian community in Oslo, the leader of the People’s Democratic Party for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) said: “Gambians must know that they own The Gambia.”

He commended them for inviting him to Norway – a country that is internationally respected for promoting peace and tolerance around the world.

During his brief stay in the Norwegian capital, Halifa visited the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Nobel Peace Centre and Oslo’s Agency for Waste Management, where a presentation was given on how the city manages and recycles waste.

The PDOIS leader also met Norwegian dignitaries, among them the Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee of the Norwegian Parliament, Ms Anniken Huitfeldt.

Halifa, who is adored for his humility and intelligence, is likely to become the first political party leader to meet Gambians in five European countries in a single trip.

He is currently in Sweden and is expected to leave for Germany later this week.